Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the position in relation to students and teaching staff of the former Army apprenticeship school at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare; the nature and extent, if any, of arrangements entered into with both or either parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20772/99]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Two of the teaching staff employed at the former Army apprentice school, Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, are currently employed at the signals school, Curragh. At present, the Department of Education and Science is actively pursuing the possibility of redeployment to institutes of technology of the remaining staff members, in consultation with the staff concerned and with their trade union. The possibility of voluntary early retirement under the relevant Department of Education and Science schemes also arises in some cases. My Department is keeping in touch with the Department of Education and Science in the matter.

There were 28 apprentices at the Army apprentice school in Devoy Barracks prior to the closure of that barracks. Of these, 18 attended the Dublin Institute of Technology, either at Bolton Street or at Kevin Street for the purpose of completing their final "off the job" training module which consisted of ten weeks. These 18 apprentices were variously training as motor mechanics, carpenters and electricians. They commenced their attendance at Dublin Institute of Technology in late January and completed it at the end of March.

The remaining ten apprentices, who are training in electronics/commmunications, have relocated to the School of Signals on the Curragh. They will now complete their technical training in the middle of 2001.

In 1998 the average cost of training an apprentice had reached the level of £100,000 per annum. This was clearly unsustainable.

When the closure of the apprentice school was announced, I gave an undertaking that every individual student would be given the opportunity to complete their training. I am informed by the military authorities that the new arrangements have worked very satisfactorily and that the standard of instruction provided has been excellent. As promised all the students either have completed, or are continuing on to complete, their apprenticeships.

It is envisaged that, in future, Army apprentices will attend at FÁS and-or regional technical college courses for their formal "off the job" training. This is already the long established situation with Naval Service apprentices. The apprenticeship needs of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are kept under regular review. Apprentices will continue to be recruited for specific trades and crafts, as and when required, in response to identified service needs.